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UPDATE: Ex-Legislator Sentenced in Bribe

Story by Associated Press

last updated January 23, 2013

A former Arizona legislator was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months of home confinement for his felony convictions for seeking and accepting bribes while he was a Tempe city councilman and misleading donors about a scholarship fund that benefited his relatives.

Former Rep. Ben Arredondo had admitted he accepted sporting tickets and other benefits from FBI agents who posed as employees for a real estate development company looking to do business in Tempe.

The former Democratic lawmaker admitted that more than $49,000 from a scholarship fund he established had gone to seven of his relatives.

He never revealed to prospective donors that family members were receiving the funds.

Prosecutors had asked for an 18-month prison sentence and a $49,000 fine.

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